Federal edict raises lunch prices

CORY STOTTLEMYER

Published 6:59 am, Monday, May 16, 2011

At the same time the school district revealed it will still be $5 million in the red under the current expected budget from the state, a new federal act will require the district to raise lunch prices or face further budget constrictions.

Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the school district will need to raise its lunch prices.

“Sometime earlier this spring Congress passed the Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 that requires those of us who participate in school lunch program, which I think all but one or two districts in the state do, to provide the same level of support for lunches, which we serve for our children who are not on free and reduced lunch and who pay full price,” said Tracy Hoke, the district’s Chief Financial Officer. “So basically, districts which have a curved plate cost of less than $2.46 are required to make some price adjustments this year, a minimum of 3.14 percent.”

If the district does not raise lunch prices, Hoke said the district will have to transfer almost $200,000 from the operating budget to the food service budget, which she said would further contribute to the district’s deficit.

According to a White House press release, the act would increase the number of eligible children enrolled in school meal programs by approximately 115,000 students by using Medicaid data to directly certify children who meet income requirements. It would also help certify an average additional 4,500 students per year to receive school meals by setting benchmarks for states to improve the certification process. Census data would be used to determine school-wide income eligibility as well.